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August 23, 2006

Kicker Situation cleared up

It's official: Stephen Gostkowski will replace Adam Vinatieri as the Patriots kicker.
The Patriots released veteran Martin Gramatica this afternoon. The move was made with an eye on freeing Gramatica up to chase another kicker's job in the final few weeks of the NFL pre-season.
Here is the official release.

Martin Gramatica, 30, was signed by the Patriots as a veteran free agent on April 6, 2006. The 5-foot-8-inch, 170-pound kicker is in his seventh NFL season after spending his first six years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999-2004) and Indianapolis Colts (2004). He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season. Gramatica has converted 137-of-179 career field goals (76.5 percent) and 181-of-183 career extra points (98.9 percent). In seven career playoff games, he has converted 11-of-12 field goals (91.7 percent) and all 15 extra point attempts. The Kansas State product was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round (80th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He holds Tampa Bay’s all-time career records for scoring (591 points), field goals made (137) and field goals attempted (179).
Gramatica participated in one game for the Patriots this preseason, converting both of his field goal attempts and his only extra point try against Atlanta on Aug. 11, 2006

KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Kevin  at 5:19 PM | Permalink